Responsible tourism

Responsible tourism: Jordan cycling holiday

Environment

We are working with our local suppliers in Jordan to conserve water in the fragile desert environment. We advise customers to save natural resources and encourage them to have showers rather than baths and by not letting a tap run unnecessarily. In addition we encourage taking laundry home if possible rather than doing it locally, as well as travelling with a water purification filter and water bottle on holiday to help reduce plastic waste.

Although not necessarily known for its nature and wildlife, Jordan offers a surprisingly rich diversity of animal and plant species. There are also many conservation efforts in place to combat issues such as deforestation and over-hunting that pose threats to the natural landscapes as well as the animals of Jordan. When visiting sensitive areas like nature reserves we ask visitors to maintain appropriate distances from wildlife, stay on trails to avoid trampling plants or causing erosion. While snorkelling we encourage clients to protect themselves from the sun by wearing a t-shirt rather than sunscreen which can harm the fragile reefs.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

Community

We encourage clients when buying souvenirs from Jordan to buy hand made products by the local community, usually by local village Women. There is no commission, the money you spend goes directly to the local community and supports the lives of villagers who don’t have another source of income .

We also encourage clients to eat at local and family owned restaurants in order to support local business.

To ensure our customers have the warmest welcome when travelling in Jordan the trip leader shares a few tips and advice at the start of the trips. The advice includes; dressing respectfully, Jordan is mainly an Islamic country, so especially women are required to cover shoulders and knees. Asking before taking pictures of people, be sensitive when you take photos or videos of local people, your picture will mean more, and the person will feel less like an object of curiosity.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.